Was there a defining moment when you knew you were destined to become a creative professional?

When I was young, my grandfather gave me some of his old stereo equipment, tape recorders, and microphones. I loved to connect and disconnect the components, listen to music and record songs from the radio. I realized my future was as a creative professional when I started to merge these skills and record my own music.

How do you weave your professional background into the classroom experience?

I started teaching after I’d worked a number of years for several production and recording companies. That experience taught me what it takes to succeed in the industry. I use it to teach students about industry expectations. My class assignments come as close as possible to the challenges they’ll face in the real world.

What class assignment exemplifies your approach to teaching and mentoring?

In one of my audio production classes, students work on a challenging assignment in which they collaborate in a group, just as they would as part of a real-world production team. First, they replace all the sound in a given video clip. Next, they demonstrate their technical skills in the audio studio. They develop their creativity as they learn to listen critically and explore possibilities. They have to overcome many challenges simultaneously as they build the skills they’ll need in a career in digital production.

How does collaboration contribute to students’ success—particularly when students from various programs work together?

Students who collaborate with others, especially from other programs, are often able to produce their best work. If you can work as part of a team, recognize others’ talent, and be open to creative dialogue, you have a solid foundation for career success.

What’s the most important thing you impart to students to help them succeed in class and the real world?

Be on time, prepared, and alert. Be ready to tackle the day’s challenge.